City of Kingston ready to bolster workforce after pandemic hiring freeze – Kingston

The number of municipal employees in the City of Kingston is about to rise.

The city is getting ready to spend about $4.5 million to rehire city workers who were either laid off or had their jobs put on a freeze during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 budget estimates include increased staffing costs required to return some services to pre-pandemic levels.

The city’s transit department will receive an additional $2 million to bring staffing back to 2020 levels, including the return of part-time staff.

In the arts and culture sector, an additional $650,000 would be allocated to fund the return of staff to support events at the Grand Theatre.

The budget also includes other newly-created jobs to match council priorities, such as managerial roles to run heritage services.

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Kingston city council votes for COVID-19 vaccination policy without threat to employment